B.C. dropped 11,700 jobs in July, pushing the provincial unemployment rate from 6.3% to 6.7%, according to Statistics Canada's latest Labour Force Survey released today (August 9).
The losses come after a bumpy spring for job growth in B.C.: in March, the province lost 15,000 jobs, tracking the rest of the country in a rise in unemployment. In April, B.C. gained 9,500 jobs. But in May, while the rest of the country recorded the highest monthly job gains in 11 years, B.C. lost 1,000 jobs.
Employment declines in B.C. were concentrated among part-time employment, down 17,800 jobs, and in the 15-to-24-year-old age group, which lost 7,700 jobs.
The services-producing sector led the losses, primarily in wholesale and retail trade (down 15,300 jobs), public administration (down 5,700) and educational services (down 4,900).
In the goods-producing sector, declines in B.C.'s manufacturing and resources industries were offset by gains in the construction industry.
In July, B.C. lost the second-highest number of jobs. Quebec shed the most, at 30,000.
Nationally, there were 39,400 fewer jobs in July compared with June, and the unemployment rate rose 0.1% to 7.2%.
Most of July's nationwide losses came from the public sector, including health care, social assistance and public administration. Job decreases also came from the information, culture and recreation sectors. But business was hiring: employment in that sector rose by 6.2% compared with one year ago.
The national losses were driven by lower employment in the 15-to-24-year-old age group, which lost 46,000 jobs in July. The 25-to-54-year-old age group saw little change.
